Saint Kentigern College claimed the last Girls Premier Grade semi-final berth with a tense 61-57 victory at Epsom Girls Grammar.
Played on Thursday night the final regular season game for both teams in effect became a quarter-final tie as both had an identical 7-6 record leading into the contest.
The opening exchanges favoured Epsom, Mihinoa Tanghaere’s basket late in the first quarter, extending the host’s advantage to 20-15 at the first break.
The second period was something of a shoot-out between Epsom guard Draun Forbes and St Kent’s Nerisa Vavau.
The pair sunk three triples apiece – points late in the quarter from Maya Fowler kept Epsom ahead 35-32 at half-time.
Forbes added a fourth three in the third although Sharmaine Taplin countered in kind as the Epsom lead shrunk to 2 points at three-quarter time (48-46)
The fourth was a tight tussle but it was 7 points from Tapling that seized the momentum for St Kent’s – Mania Rogers and Ashleigh Tuumaialu added valuable points as the visitors closed out a hard fought victory.
St Kent’s will now lineup against Westlake Girls in a semi-final tie next Friday at Eventfinda Stadium.
Epsom 57 – Draun Forbes 24, Leah Patuwairua 12, Maya Fowler 11
St Kentigern 61 – Ashleigh Tuumaialu 17, Sharmaine Tapling 14, Maia Bennett 12, Nerisa Vavau 9, Mania Rogers 6
Standings – remaining Round 14 games to be played tonight (Friday)
13-0 Westlake
11-2 Baradene
9-4 MAGS
8-6 St Kentigern
7-7 Epsom
3-10 St Mary’s
1-12 Rangitoto, Carmel
LACEY LOWDOWN 